Organ valve and actuating means therefor



Get. 16, 1962 c. F. DURST ETAL 3,058,383

ORGAN VALVE AND ACTUATING MEANS THEREFOR Filed Nov. 5, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet l 9 a gill?lWW WIIIIWIIWIWWWWWWNWWW wwwwwvw 2E5immmmmummmmmnmwmm"MmmmmmM Miami? //////////fl//////A -A- STARTING 0S!| ION B-MAXIMUM PULL POSITION -C- ENDING POSlTlON-l awe/whom CARL F. DURST FREDERICK R. DURST DECEASED QM A ndbwzwa Oct. 16, 1962 c. F. DURST ETAL 3,058,383

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3 3mm L L F ou sx s T United States Patent 3,058,333 Patented Oct. 16, 1962 3,058,383 ORGAN VALVE AND ACTUATING MEAN THEREFOR Carl F. Durst, Erie, Pa., and Frederick R. Durst, deceased,

late of Erie, Pa., by Frances Durst, executrix, Erie,

Pa., assignors to Organ Supply Corporation, Erie, Pa,

a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Nov. 5, 1958, Ser. No. 772,096 3 Claims. (Cl. 84-337) This invention relates to an electromagnet having an armature which is telescopically related to a fixed core member.

It is Well understood that the maximum pull position of an armature of an electromagnet occurs at or near the point where the smallest increment of movement produces the greatest change in the reluctance of the magnetic path of the electromagnet. By providing a fixed para-magnetic core member which is adapted to telescopically receive the armature or movable core member, this maximum pull position of the armature occurs at the point of entrance of the armature within the fixed core member. If the movable core member is initially spaced some distance from the fixed core member, the amount of pull exerted on the armature for a given amount of current through the coil will be relatively low at the beginning of movement of the armature. Where the armature is in close proximity of the fixed core, the maximum pull for a given amount of current in the coil is realized.

After the movable core member has been telescopically received within the fixed member, the pull exerted by the movable member is somewhat less in spite of the close proximity between the members. The reason for this is that continued movement of the movable core member within the fixed movable member after initial entrance does not produce as great a change on the reluctance of the magnetic path as occurs at the initial point of entrance.

One application of the electromagnetic device may be in combination with an organ valve. Since it is well known that the greatest resistance to the opening of an organ valve occurs at the time of initial opening, it is important that a maximum pull of the electromagnet associated therewith occur at this time.

Another application of the invention disclosed herein is in combination with a circuit breaker of the knife blade type. On closing the knife blades, the greatest resistance thereto occurs at the time of initial engagement of the fixed and movable blades and it is important, therefore, that the maximum pull position of the electromagnetic armature occur at this time.

Pipe organs which utilize valves to open and close air passages rely upon the flow of air through these passages to make the pipes speak. When the valve member engages the valve seat in a rigid manner and the valve is rigidly aflixed to the core member, the valve tends to bounce when the valve closes, thus causing a flutter of air through the air passage which makes the organ pipe produce an undesirable and unwanted sound known as chirping or fluttering. To remedy this, the valve member is fixed to the core with some play therebetween. This play or loose connection of the valve also has the result of opening the air passage with a. jerk or plucking action which is desirable as it makes the organ pipes speak more promptly.

It is, accordingly, an object of this invention to provide an improved valve for use on pipe organs.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved magnetic circuit in a valve.

A further object of the invention is to provide a solenoid actuated valve wherein the valve is loosely connected to the valve core.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved valve having a valve member loosely connected to the valve core.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a valve for pipe organs which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, and simple and etficient to use.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists of the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, size, proportions, and minor details of construction without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view taken on line 1-1 of FIG. 2 of a solenoid constructed in accordance with the present invention and showing the positions of the movable core member at starting position indicated at A; at maximum pull position indicated at B; and at end of stroke indicated at C;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1 of a solenoid applied to an organ valve for opening the same;

FIG. 3 is a plan view partly in section of a solenoid applied to the control of a circuit breaker of the knife blade yp FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the knife blade circuit breaker and solenoid therefor shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a schematic showing of the position of the movable core member at the point when the knife blades of FIGS. 3 and 4 become engaged; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic showing of the position of the movable core member after the knife blades have become fully engaged.

Now with more particular reference to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a support for an electromagnet comprising a U-shaped frame 1 and a keeper 2, each of a para-magnetic material. A fixed core member 3 and a non-magnetic liner 5 are supported on the frame 1 and the keeper 2, respectively. The liner 5 and the fixed core 3 form a support for a coil 6 which is wound thereon. Axially movable with respect to the coil 6 is an armature or movable core member 4. The non-magnetic liner 5 provides a bearing for the armature 4 and it will be seen that this bearing extends within the opening in the stationary core member 3.

The initial or starting position of the armature 4 is shown at A in FIG. 1 and it will be seen that in this position, the armature 4 is spaced a substantial distance from the stationary core member 3. The magnetic circuit can be traced through the frame 1, the keeper 2, across the gap between the keeper 2 and the armature 4 formed by the non-magnetic liner 5, the armature 4, and thence across the gap separating the armature 4 and the stationary core member 3 back to the frame 1. Since a considerable air gap separates the armature 4 and the fixed core member 3 at the initial position A of the armature 4, there will be a considerable reluctance in the magnetic path described above.

When the armature 4 begins to be telescopically received within the stationary core member 3 as shown at position B in FIG. 1, the armature 4 is at its position of maximum pull. This is due to the fact that at position B, the greatest change in reluctance of the magnetic path occurs for a given increment of movement of the armature- 4 after the armature 4 has entered the core member 3,'

the non-magnetic gap between the armature 4 and the stationary core member 3 having been reduced to the relatively small amount corresponding to the thickness of the thin wall non-magnetic liner 5 which separates the two. Thereafter, as the armature 4 further enters the fixed core member 3, the pull on the armature 4 decreases somewhat since a lesser change in the reluctance of the magnetic path occurs for a given increment of movement of the armature 4.

The relatively thin walled, non-magnetic liner 5, a portion of which extends into the axially bored fixed core member 3, also serves the important function of mag netically insulating the core 3 and the armature 4 and thus prevents sticking of the parts during operation.

The movement of the armature 4 with the fixed core member 3 upon energization of the coil 6 is resisted by a spring 3 which also functions to close the valve when the coil 6 is deenergized and which is disposed concentric to a stem 9. A nut 10 is used only to prevent the core or armature 4 from falling out in shipment and is removed when the valve is installed.

FIG. 2 shows the device used for opening organ valves. The frame 1 is fixed by screws 11 to a toe board 12 of an organ air chest. An armature 4a has threaded in the end thereof an insert 21 made of expansible material such as leather. A buffer screw is supported above a flange 19 and around the armature 4a to limit the movement of the armature 4a. A screw 16 is screwed into the leather insert 21 and carries thereon a stiff non-resilient valve disk 13. A resilient washer 17 separates the head of the screw 16 from the valve disk 13 of fiber board or the like and two spacer washers 18 made of fiber material separate the disk 13 from the flange 19 on the end of the armature 4a. A disk 14 made of thick felt or the like is adhesively attached to the disk 13 and a disk 15 of soft leather is in turn adhesively attached to the disk 14, the disk 15 forming the face of the organ valve. The screw 16 is a wood screw and is only tightened sufficiently to leave a space between the head thereof and the washer 17 so that as the armature 4a moves, no force is exerted on the washer 17. Thus, the initial movements of the armature 4a are not resisted by the vacuum on the washer 17. Thus, the armature is first moved by impact on the washer '17.

The spacer washers 18 are selected of such thickness that the armature 4a is in its maximum pull position when the organ valve is closed. When an organ valve is initially opened, there is an initial resistance on the valve. It is advantageous, therefore, to have the maximum pull position in this case occur at the starting position of the armature 4a. It has been discovered that this manner of attaching the fiber washer allows it to be seated and to be removed in a manner which prevent chirping or fluttering of the valve.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the device applied to a switch comprising fixed and movable knife blades. A frame similar to the frame 1 in FIG. 1 is attached to a support 22 which forms a part of the switch base. The movable armature 4 is provided with a stirrup 23 hingedly connected with the armature 4 by a pin 24. A rod 25 is adjustably fastened to the stirrup 23 by means of two nuts 26. The knife blade switch may be of general construction but is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 as comprising fixed contact blades mounted on a base 31. Movable knife blade contacts 29 are carried by an insulating base 28 which is in turn mounted on the rotatable shaft of a crank 27. The crank 27 is in turn rotatably mounted in supports 32. The rod 25 is rotatably connected with the outer end of the crank 27 and it will be seen that movement of the armature 4 results in a rotation of the crank 27 whereby the movable knife blades 29 are caused to engage and disengage the fixed knife blade contacts 30.

In this application of the electro-magnet, the knife blades 29 and 30 are separated when the armature 4 is in its initial position. In the ultimate position of the armature 4 upon energization of the coil 6, the knife blades 29 and 30 have become engaged. Since the greatest torque on the shaft of the crank 27 is required at the time the blades 29 and 30 initially contact one another upon closing the switch, it is important that this initial contacting position of the knife blades 29 and 30 occurs at the maximum pull position of the armature 4. To illustrate, FIG. 5 shows schematically the position of the armature 4 when the contacts 29 and 30 are initially meeting upon closing and maximum pull is required.

FIG. 6 shows, schematically, the position of the movable armature 4 at the end of the stroke when the contacts 29 and 30 are fully engaged. A pair of adjustable stops such as nuts 33 carried by a fixed threaded stem may be provided for cooperation with a projection 34 to limit the extreme positions of the insulating base 28 which carries the blades 29.

While preferred embodiments of the present solenoid operated organ valve have been illustrated herein, it will be understood that changes in the arrangement and details of construction thereof may be made Without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the annexed claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In combination, an organ valve and means to operate said valve, said valve comprising a toe board of an organ air chest, an opening in said chest, said valve having a leather washer resting on said chest and closing said opening, a felt washer having a hole therein attached to said leather washer, a rigid fiber washer attached to said felt washer, an elongated armature, a hollow solenoid having an opening therein, said armature extending into said hollow, and a screw attached to said armature with its head disposed in said hole in said felt washer and being disposed a substantial distance from said fiber washer, said fiber washer being loosely supported on said armature by said screw whereby said armature may move a substantial distance before said fiber Washer is moved.

2. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said solenoid has a magnetic core therein extending partly therethrough and said armature is adapted to be pulled into said core and is disposed outside said core prior to energization of said solenoid.

3. A valve for a pipe organ, said valve having a core and a flat disk like member made of thick felt like material, and a headed member extending through said disk like member and attached to said core, said disk member being loosely supported on said headed member and a space between the head of said headed member and said disk member, said disk like member being freely movable a substantial distance relative to said core whereby when said core bounces, said disk member will not move therewith.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 985,676 Howe Feb. 28, 1911 1,767,739 Brown June 24, 1930 2,247,838 Grant July 1, 1941 2,577,580 Hallman Dec. 4, 1951 2,671,836 Anger et a1 Mar. 9, 1954 2,683,198 Bengtsson July 6, 1954 2,917,601 Hatchet Dec. 15, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,014,418 Germany Aug. 22, 1957 

